The Cat Mummy (Hardback) [Hardcover]

Verity's old tabby cat, Mabel, might not be quite as lively as she used to be, and yes, she smells a bit, and doesn't always make it to the litter tray on time, but she really really loves her. More importantly, Mabel once belonged to Verity's mum --not that Verity actually ever knew her mum because she died. She really doesn't mind too much about not having a mum, apart from when she goes to visit her grave, which makes her think about being in the ground with a head full of worms.

So when she finds Mabel dead in the wardrobe, it seems to Verity that it would be much better to take a few lessons from the Ancient Egyptians: rather than bury the poor old thing she decides to mummify her so they can be together forever. But, what with the problems involved in finding the basic mummification materials, and the fact that Gran would probably fuss about hygiene if she knew anything about it, things don't quite go as planned...

The simply sensational Jacqueline Wilson strikes hard and fast with this superb story of a feisty little girl coping with the death of a much-loved pet. But, as usual, the wiley Wilson doesn't just leave it there: instead she goes on to deliver a graceful, poignant and barely perceptible exploration of the close-to-the surface emotions of a family who have never truly recovered from the long-ago death of a loved-one.

The Cat Mummy is simple, to the point, and a cracking story, but with the added bonus of Wilson's fantastic ability to bring serious issues to the fore without detracting from her characters and the deeply personal stories they have to tell. Another gem of a book from a national treasure of an author, The Cat Mummy is a must-read. Age 7 and over.--Susan Harrison

"* 'A brilliant young writer of wit and subtlety' THE TIMES * 'Hugely popular with seven to ten year olds: she should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY * 'Has a rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emtional issues' BOOKSELLER --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A superb and sensitive story for 7 to 11-year-olds from bestselling Jacqueline Wilson, featuring a special introduction from the author. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Mabel, my dear old tabby cat is a good listener. She never minds what I want to talk about. Mabel may not be as adventurous or as much fun as my friend Sophie's four kittens, but she's always there for me. My teacher told us that in Ancient Egypt, people worshipped cats. Mabel could definitely have been a cat goddess in those days...

I have a pet. I love her lots. But she is very, very, very boring.

Even so, Mabel, my dear old tabby cat, is a very good listener. She never minds what I want to talk about. Mabel may not be as adventurous or as much fun as my friend Sophie's four kittens, but she's always there for me.

Miss Smith, my new teacher, told us that in Ancient Egypt, people worshipped cats. Mabel could definitely have been a cat goddess in those days.

JACQUELINE WILSON is an extremely well-known and hugely popular author who served as Children's Laureate from 2005-7. She has been awarded a number of prestigious awards, including the British Children's Book of the Year and the Guardian Children's Fiction Award (for The Illustrated Mum), the Smarties Prize and the Children's Book Award (for Double Act, for which she was also highly commended for the Carnegie Medal). In 2002 Jacqueline was given an OBE for services to literacy in schools and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame. She was the author most borrowed from British libraries in the last decade.

'A brilliant writer of wit and subtlety' THE TIMES

'She should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'Has a rare gift for writing lightly and amusingly about emotional issues' BOOKSELLER

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.